Discharge deflector for container dischargers



I 1967 M. BABUNOVIC ETAL 3,305,065

DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR FOR CONTAINER DISCHARGERS Filed June 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS MOMIR BABUNOVIC BY JOHN CGOESSMANN ATTORNEYS 1967 M- BABUNOVIC ETAL DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR FOR CONTAINER DISCHARGERS Fild June 11, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 3 N 3 4 O A MOM i M M 7 [BE l A? l m" m. RC 3 HQH L m u 0 MJ y u u m 1Q I II ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,305,065 DISCHARGE DEFLECTOR FOR CONTAINER DISCHARGERS Momir Babunovic, Des Pere, and John C. Goessmann, Woodson Terrace, Mo., assiguors to Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,159 2 Claims. (Cl. 19825) This invention relates to discharge deflectors for container dischargers of washing apparatus.

Certain container washing apparatus in present use are provided with endless belt-type carriers having multiple rows of pockets so that a great number of containers can be washed in a short space of time. Generally the pockets are arranged in rows of twenty or more in width so that containers are loaded simultaneously into all pockets in each row, and the containers are also discharged from each row in a simultaneous manner. After being discharged, the washed and sterilized containers are conveyed to filling machines. In the following discussion the term bottle will be understood to refer to containers of all sorts.

The beverage art has become accustomed to using a large number of bottles of various sizes, and size variation has caused problems in adapting washing apparatus to handle the bottles. It can be appreciated that it is expensive and troublesome to change the pockets in washers each time a different sized bottle is to be Washed. It is, of course, most advantageous to select a pocket size that can handle a range of bottle sizes so that the washer apparatus does not require adjustments and exchange of pockets. When the pockets are not changed, the smaller sized bottles tend to cock and assume non-uniform positions after loading. This characteristic is not particularly troublesome until the bottles reach the discharge station, and then the nonuniform position of the bottles cause serious problems of timing the discharge simultaneously from each row. Any deviation from a uniform and simultaneous drop-off condition can cause breakage and disrupt smooth discharge operation.

The bottle drop-off time in the discharge cycle depends upon a number of variables, such as: the clearance between the bottom edge of the pockets and the discharge deflector; the shape and diameter of the bottles; size of pocket to size of bottle; manufacturing tolerances in the carrier chain and pocket carrier assembly; and lubricity of the discharge deflector. In view of the variables encountered it is practically impossible to find an optimum adjustment for the bottle discharge that will satisfy all conditions.

There is a need for an improved device for controlling the discharge of bottles from washer apparatus to overcome the problems, some of which have been enumerated. In presenting the present invention reference will be made to the bottle discharger shown in the Vamvakas Patent No. 2,858,929, issued November 4, 1958 for purposes of illustrating one application thereof.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved and unique bottle discharger for bottle washing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge deflector that is continuously effective so as not to retard the function of the washer apparatus, but to maintain control over the containers for faster discharge.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a discharge deflector that is easily adjustable to suit the bottle size being processed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a discharge deflector that will handle bottles of several 3,395,065 Patented Feb. 21, 1967 sizes and allow the use of one size of bottle pocket in the washer apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a discharge deflector that will effectively pre-position and direct the bottles in each row of pockets for simultaneous drop-off.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bottle discharging deflector for use with washer apparatus having endless bottle carrier pockets so that as the bottles approach the drop-off zone the bottles in each row will be disposed adjacent the leading wall of the pockets for aligning the bottles to obtain registration with the discharge opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bottle discharge deflector that has a movable surface presented to the bottom of the bottles in each row of pockets, and in which the surface moves faster than or relative to the row of pockets to positively position the bottles for simultaneous drop-off.

It is yet a further object of the invention referred to above to present a moving surface to the bottles in each row of pockets and one that requires little or no adjustment for different bottle diameters, whereby to reduce or eliminate changeover time of the washer when supplied with a different diameter or size of bottle and secure a simultaneous drop-off action of the rows of bottles.

Additional objects andadvantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description of certain preferred forms to be disclosed in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

. FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly 1n section, showing one form of the invention in association with bottle carrier pockets;

FIG. 2 is a view of the invention seen at line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. I, but showing the invention in association with bottles smaller than those shown in FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is a View similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a modified discharge deflector; and

FIG. 5 is a similar view of a further form of discharge deflector. The 'bottle discharging mechanism may be employed '111 con unction with various forms of bottle conditioning devices; but for purposes of illustration and for purposes of describing the invention in an environmental setting, FIG. 1 shows the discharger in use with a typical bottle washer. The portions of the bottle washer illustrated include an endless carrier designated by the numeral 10, comprising a plurality of bottle receiving and carrying pockets 11 adapted to receive bottles '12 therein. The pockets 11 are arranged in tandem relation along the carrrer 10, and are adapted to advance the bottles one-by-one into a discharge station designated generally with the numeral 13.

In effect, the carrier 10 comprises a plurality of links gener -ly similar to a link chain, and it is entrained about a drive pulley o-r wheel 14 mounted upon a shaft 15 by means of a key 16 that prevents relative rotational m-ove ment between the wheel and shaft. The shaft 15 is adapted to be rotatably driven by appropriate drive mecha-msm which is well known, and for that reason not shown.

In their advance to the discharge station 13, at which time the pockets 11 are inverted so that bottles may drop therefrom due to their on weight, the bottles slide over and are held within the pockets by an arcuate guard 17 that subscribes an are substantially coaxial with the wheel 14. If desired, a shield 18 may be provided along the outer surface of the guard 17, and it may be equipped with a trough 19 adapted to receive liquid that drains from the pockets 11 and bottles 12 therein. The portion of the guard 17 above the trough 19 may be perforated to permit liquid to drain downwardly therethrough. The guard 17 terminates adjacent the discharge station 13 so that bottles when moved into that station are unsupported handling line-as, for example, the bottle filling and capping stations. The receiver 22 comprises an endless conveyor belt 23 carried by the support member 24 mounted upon a shaft 25 equipped with wheels 26 and 27 that ride within the respective tracks 28 and 29. As the wheels run along the track members, which are generally U- shaped, the conveyor belt 23 is advanced. The conveyors of the character here employed are well known in the art,

a further description thereof will not be set forth.

Extending between the discharge station 13 and receiver 22 is a guide assembly indicated generally by the numeral 30. The guide assembly comprises an upwardly extending guide section 31, a generally horizontal platform section 32, and guide walls 33 that extend toward the receiver 22. The guides 31) and and platform 32 are supported from structure 34 of the apparatus. As has been brought out herein before, bottle conditioning apparatus norm-ally provides a bank of bottle carriers, and similarly then the discharge mechanism must provide a bank of bottle dischargers. This is apparent from an examination of FIG. 2, which shows a plurality of individual dischargers arranged in side-by-side relation to define a bank.

As may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 there is associated with the guide assemblies a discharge cam 35 which is provided with a mounting hub 36 to be secured to a drive shaft 37 by a screw 33. The drive for shaft 37 may be of any character suitable for the washer apparatus, but which rotates in time relation with wheel 14 so that the pockets 11 are synchronized with the cam 35-. The

cam has two functioning portions, one being 39 which receives and lowers each bottle 12 and the other is 40 which pushes each bottle 12 along the platform 32 and onto the conveyor 23. The configuration of the cam 35 can be varied to accommodate the needs of the apparatus, and may be metal or plastic. The operation of the cam 35 need not be detailed here as the same can be understood upon reference to said Vamvakas Patent 2,858,929.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the present discharge deflector improvement can be seen to comprise a moving edge or line roller 41 positioned at the leading edge 42 of a discharge plate 43. The plate 43 is attached to a channel member 44 that extends across the width of the row of pockets 11. The member 44 also supports spaced bearing blocks 45 (FIG. 2) in which the line roller 41 is mounted. The ends of member 44 are provided with a guide 46 (one being shown) movably positioned adjacent a fixed frame 47 attached to a part of the side frame F of the apparatus. The frame 47 carries an adjusting Wheel 48 that is rotatable in the frame 47 but is not permitted to move axially. The wheel rotates a threaded thrust screw 49 which is engaged in a member 50 movable in the frame 47. Turning of the wheel 48 at each side will move the members 50 and advance or retract the member 44 and line roller 41 relative to the guides 31, thereby adjusting the bottle drop-off gap at the top of the guides 31. The plate 43 slides just beneath a fixed lip plate 51 that forms the lower end of the curved guard 17.

The line roller 41 has an adjustable bearing 52 for its shaft 53 and a sprocket 54. The bearing 52 is supported at the outside of frame of the apparatus by a wing-mount 55 secured by suitable bolts 56 set in slots 57 so that the mount 55 can be loosened while the wheel 48 is being adjusted and retightened to fix the new position of the line roller. The end of roller shaft 53 has a sprocket 54 engaged by the drive chain 59 trained over the powered sprocket 60 (FIG. 1) on shaft 61. A chain slack take-up device 62 keeps the proper driving tension in chain 59 for the range of adjustments of the line roller 41. It is, of course, assumed that the drive means for line roller 41 is carried by the frame and it has not been particularly shown in FIG. 1 or 2 so as not to obscure the disclosure of the structure particularly concerned with thepresent invention. 3

The ratio of sprockets S4 and 60 is such that if the shaft 51 is driven at the same speed with shaft 15, the line roller 41 will have a surface speed higher than the linear movement of the bottles 12 or the carrier 10 the-refor. The faster speed of roller 41 is desirable as it will cause bottles engaging on the roller to positively move into a position against the front wall 11A of the pocket 11 from the tilted position shown in FIG. 1 just after the bottle reaches the roller 41. The bottle tilt is caused by the bottom of the bottle sliding on the guard 17, the lip 51, and over the plate 43 due to the increased fric tion as the bottle comes out of the turn at wheel .14 and gets close to an erect position for bottom-first dis-charge. Thus, the faster surface speed of the roller 41 will cause the bottom of the bottle to move up, and this action will take place for all the bottles in each row as the successive rows of pockets bring bottles into the discharge guide assembly 30. Also, the action of the roller 41 will continue until the bottles have run past the roller 41, at which time all the bottles will drop off the roller 41 simultaneously, and be caught in the respective guides 31 at the gap therebetween. The surface speed of the roller 41 has to be of such magnitude that the bottles are continuously pushed against the front wall 11A of the pockets 11.

In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adjustment of the roller 41 is provided so that the drop-off gap shown in FIG. 1 will take the largest diameter bottle 12 to be handled in the pockets 11. This setting will secure proper pre-positioning for any bottle smaller than the pocket inside dimension. The roller 41 will not require further adjustment, thus reducing changeover time, and assuring that the bottles, regardless of diameter, will drop off at the same timed position of the cam 35 when its surface 39 is in the dwell period relative to the gap through which the bottles must drop.

Comparing FIG. 3 with FIG. 1 it will be noted that the bottles 112 are smaller and have space in which to lean more than the larger bottles 12. However, the roller 4-1 quickly corrects the condition and the bottles 112 are moved up against the front wall 11A of the pockets 111, since the roller surface speed is faster than the linear travel of the pockets 11a In FIG. 4 there is illustrated a modification of the means seen in FIG. 3. Instead of having a roller rotating in the same direction at all times, an oscillating roller 141 is provided. The roller 141 is mounted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for roller 41, but is provided with an arm 154 that replaces sprocket '54. In place of the chain 59 and sprocket 60, there is now a crank arm 155 connected at one end to a pivot 156 and at its opposite end to a link 1S7 driving arm 154. Shaft 61 rotates a cam 158 having the groove 15 9 to receive roller 161i on arm 155. The cam 158 will oscillate the arm 155 and impart oscillation to roller 141 in like manner. The leverage of arm 154 and crank arm 15S, and the shape of cam groove .15 9 will, of course, be selected to produce the desired faster surface speed of the roller 141 in the direction of bottle movement and for a time sufficient to assure bottle drop-off simultaneously in each row.

In FIG. 5, the bottles 112 are similar to those in FIG. 4, but the oscillating roller 141 is replaced with a movable ledge 161 hinged to the leading edge 4-2 of the plate 43. The ledge 161 has a hinge pintle arm 162 that keeps the ledge raised, but which pivots the ledge downwardly at the proper time to force the bottoms of the bottles forwardly to cause them simultaneously to drop-off the ledge, as indicated in the phantom outlines of FIG. 5. The function of the roller 41 in FIG. 3 is preserved by the ledge 161. As may be seen the ledge 161 when moved forms an inclined plane that forces the bottles 112 to advance against the front wall 11A of the pockets 11. The arm 162 may be driven by the cam 158 as in FIG. 4.

While several forms of the invention have been described in connection with one form of washer apparatus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims hereinafter set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In a container discharger for container processing apparatus having container carrying pockets therein connected together in an endless series and means to move the endless series of container carrying pockets through the apparatus and past a container discharge station: the improvement adjacent the discharge station comprising in combination a container receiving conveyor spaced from the discharge station, container guide means extending between the discharge station and said receiving conveyor, rotary container discharging means operatively mounted adjacent said guide means and movable to entainers must move'onto said rotary means, and container positioning means carried by and movable with said adjustable means in position to advance the bottoms of containers into said clearance gap ahead of the movement thereof by the carrying pockets.

2. The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said container positioning means is a roller member whose surface is substantially tangent to said adjustable means, and means is operatively connected to said roller member to drive the latter.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,981,684 11/1934 Wynne 19820 3,178,005 4/1965 Read 19825X EVO'N C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner. M. L. AJEMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTAINER DISCHARGER GOR CONTAINER PROCESSING APPARATUS HAVING CONTAINER CARRYING POCKETS THEREIN CONNECTED TOGETHER IN AN ENDLESS SERIES AND MEANS TO MOVE THE ENDLESS SERIES OF CONTAINER CARRYING POCKETS THROUGH THE APPARATUS AND PAST A CONTAINER DISCHARGE STATION: THE IMPROVEMENT ADJACENT THE DISCHARGE STATION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CONTAINER RECEIVING CONVEYOR SPACED FROM THE DISCHARGE STATION, CONTAINER GUIDE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE DISCHARGE STATION AND SAID RECEIVING CONVEYOR, ROTARY CONTAINER DISCHARGING MEANS OPERATIVELY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID GUIDE MEANS AND MOVABLE TO ENGAGE THE CONTAINERS IN THE DISCHARGE STATION AND MAINTAIN ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH UNTIL THE CONTAINERS ARE ON SAID RECEIVING CONVEYOR, MEANS IN THE DISCHARGE STATION ADJUTABLY MOVABLE BACK AND FORTH IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE CONTAINER CARRYING POCKETS TO PROVIDE A PREDETERMINED CLEARANCE GAP THROUGH WHICH THE CONTAINERS MUST MOVE ONTO SAID ROTARY MEANS, AND CONTAINER POSITIONING MEANS CARRIED BY AND MOVABLE WITH SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS IN POSITION TO ADVANCE THE BOTTOMS OF CONTAINERS INTO SAID CLEARANCE GAP AHEAD OF THE MOVEMENT THEREOF BY THE CARRYING POCKETS. 